Today is #GlobalRunningDay, and I get it, there's a holiday for literally everything these days (literally not used in hyperbole), but I've always rejected greeting card holidays (I even get self-conscious celebrating my birthday) and this day is no different. Yeah, I ran today, but not because a hashtag told me to go on a run to celebrate the "holiday." I ran today because that's what I do; running is my happy place, miles are my friends, sweat is sacred. But not everyone runs, not everyone can run, not everyone likes running. Sure, I love it, but you don't have to, it's OKAY.

Today, on #GlobalRunningDay, let's take a moment to reflect on why we run, or why we don't run. Because if you're running because a hashtag told you to, you need to find another reason, that can't be what drives you (and if it is, good luck around mile 7). If you don't like running because your soccer/field hockey/football/lacrosse/softball/baseball/whatever coach used running as punishment for talking or "misbehaving," doling out laps as sanctions, re-frame it, friend. Running's bad reputation as penalization has turned off would be runners for far too long, so try again, with a fresh perspective...or don't...just understand why (it's like being forced to eat broccoli for years because "you need to eat your vegetables before you can eat dessert," so hating broccoli, but then one day realizing it is delicious and #brassicasareBae).

I'm totally not bashing the community aspect of #GlobalRunningDay, I'll post my instagram #OOTD flatlay with the hashtag like every other blogger, but if this is about building a running community through social media, instead, let's sweat with a friend today, #offthegrid. After all, we're connecting across continents and back millennia, just a bunch of tribal australopithecines trying to get from point A to point B. Regardless of whether or not you run today, take a moment to celebrate a tradition that is old AF (and has evolved with humankind) by trying to evolve your understanding and interpretation of the bipedalism called "running."